Free Tibet Campaign protests as Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing meets Jack Straw
26 year old Tibetan nun Ngawang Sangdrol said today that she hoped British Prime Minister Tony Blair would support the non-violent freedom struggle of the Tibetan people when he visits China next month. She expressed her gratitude for the support she received which helped to secure her release from prison after serving 11 years of a 21 year prison sentence for peaceful protests, and said that the very fact that she was free to visit the UK demonstrated the effectiveness of international action for human rights.
“On the eve of United Nations day for victims of Torture, it is right to remember the political prisoners I have left behind in Tibet in terrible conditions, and I appeal to the British Government and British people to help secure their release as they helped me,” said Ms Sangdrol. “Even Tibetans who are not in prison have limited freedom. The Tibetan people’s hopes lie with the Dalai Lama’s efforts to pursue a non-violent resolution to the Chinese occupation and I hope that Tony Blair will give us his support.”
Alison Reynolds, Director of Free Tibet Campaign added, “Tony Blair must go to China with a firm agenda; to secure China’s agreement to negotiate with the Tibetan Government in exile, with no preconditions. Mr Blair was accused during his last visit of soft-soaping on human rights, and we call on him to demonstrate that his commitment to defending innocent people from oppressive regimes extends beyond clear cases of British self-interest. We sincerely hope that the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will be giving a strong message, concerning the rights of the Tibetan people, to Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing later this morning.”
Li Zhaoxing will have talks with Jack Straw today as part of his two day visit to London and will face protests from Tibetans and Tibet supporters. Tony Blair is expected to visit China in late July, following the postponement of a visit planned for April. Free Tibet Campaign has appealed to the Prime Minister to pro-actively engage in efforts to secure unconditional negotiations between the Chinese Government and the Tibetan Government in exile, to peacefully resolve the 53-year occupation of Tibet.
Ngawang Sangdrol was only 13 years old when she was first imprisoned in Tibet for non-violent protests in support of Tibetan independence. She was subjected to torture and ill-treatment throughout her detention in Gutsa Detention Centre and Drapchi Prison, Lhasa. She was released in October 2002 following a long-standing international campaign by groups such as Free Tibet Campaign and permitted to leave Tibet in March 2003. Ngawang Sangdrol hopes to meet a representative of the British Government during her visit. She will meet Parliamentarians and address a China discussion group meeting at Chatham House.
Contact: Alison Reynolds on 07711 843 884 or Anne Callaghan on 07905 922 701
